Extracted Text

The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:

"BOB" CRANDALL AS A DAMIPHO()OL.While 1 was collector of customs at El Paso a goodfriend of mine, Captain Crandall, had been honorablydischarged from the Union army and had located atTucson.Crandall came to El Paso and stopped at my houseand informed me that his father had died in Indianaand that he ("Bob") was en route there to get his portionof the estate, and he hoped to return pretty wellfixed. After several months Bob returned, anld canmeto mny house looking dejected and rather seedy. Hetold me that others had administered on his father's estatebefore he arrived and had got away with it alland that he was destitute.I asked my friend what he proposed to do? He saidhe would work his way back to Tucson and commencelife anew. The next morning I asked him to accompanyme to my office, and as we walked I said: "Bob,as soon as we get to the office I will write your appointmentas deputy collector of customs at Tucson ata salary of $I,8oo a year, and I will advance you amonth's salary." My friend paused and lwhen he spokethere were tears in his voice. "Mills," he said, "(o youknow that I am a Democrat " "Yes." I replied, "but isthat any reason why you should be a damphool?""Well," replied the Captain, speaking slowly, "I don'tknow that it is, but sometimes it appears to me that itallZ olfits to about the samei thing." He got the appointmentand years later died at Tucson. I told thisstory to a mixed audience in a political speech at theCourt House in El Paso, and feel sure that it did notoffend even the most enthusiastic Democrat.73